Tabac — Restaurant in San Diego

I’ve been to so many hookah lounges and cafes around Southern California and Tabac definitely has a great hookah. The food and tea is decent. Parking is a pain and there is usually no parking in and around the block or two around it. There is a parking lot a couple of blocks away. The other downside is that it’s a small place with limited inside seating and one bathroom that has a line when they are busy. Outside seating is okay but they have no heaters, so when it’s cold, it’s cold and isn’t pleasant to sit outside.

The biggest issue I have is the service. The staff is hit or miss. My last two visits were a couple of weeks apart and I found myself having to ask for things multiple times. We ordered tea and had to ask multiple times for sweetener and waited over 10 minutes before it was brought out. By this time the tea was getting cold, as we were sitting outside in the cold. When we asked for charcoal after ours dwindled down to tiny cubes, it took another 20 minutes before we got charcoal. It was over 45 minutes of smoking before the charcoals were finally replaced.

There are simple improvements that can be made to make this place 5 stars. Train staff to be more attentive and responsive to guest needs and get some heaters for the outside seating. After repeat visits of poor service, I’m not sure if I would ever come back with so many other options...

I visited Tabac a couple of days ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots I stopped at during my time in SD. It’s ideal for remote work, with fast, reliable Wi-Fi and a peaceful vibe that makes focusing easy. The service was warm and welcoming, adding to the relaxed atmosphere that really sets Tabac apart. The decor is both culturally stylish and cozy, with thoughtful touches that make the space feel inviting, while the music adds just the right amount of ambiance without being distracting. I overheard both English and Arabic being spoken as customers mingled with longtime friends and made new connections!

I ordered the sahlep, and it exceeded all my expectations—rich, creamy, and incredibly flavorful. It’s clear the staff here put care into each aspect of the experience. Tabac feels like the kind of place I’d love to come back to with friends to enjoy the atmosphere and have a good time together. Highly recommend it, whether you’re working solo or looking for a chill spot...

Only giving 4 stars because the Turkish waitresses are nice, despite your race. They’re gracious and their hospitality is unmatched. However, the Arab owners & customers are very rude (they all seem to know each other and share a mutual disdain towards the black race). They greet every ethnicity except black people. They also give dirty looks if you’re black. The atmosphere is quite intimidating and unfriendly due to the Arabs superiority complex over other races. If they could, they’d probably have a sign saying “no blacks” like they do in their home countries, but this is the USA, and such behavior isn’t allowed. I’m only giving 4 stars due to the sweet Turkish waitresses, they put my mind at ease.. If it weren’t for them, I would give this establishment a 1 star rating. Treat everyone with kindness, even if you deem...